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Now hear this: Join us for “Back to Business: Resilience, Recovery and Moving Forward,” a May 20 online conference presented by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). The session will feature three panels: “Business Best Practices” with Gautam Ijoor, Alpha Omega Integration; Mark Hartmann, Vricon; and Ashish Deshmukh, Newgen; “Technology to the Rescue” with Tom Dunlap, DBL Lawyers; Borzou Azabdaftari, Falcon Lab; and Moe Jafari, HumanTouch; and “Future of Workforce” with Michael Batt, FCEDA; Ashley Hoffman, Brazen Technologies; and Andy Galloway, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Click here to register.

How the FCEDA can help your business: Go to the end of this newsletter to find out how the FCEDA can help your business during the health crisis.

Business News and Updates:

Think regionally, act regionally: Victor Hoskins, President and CEO of the FCEDA, is one of 45 experts tapped to serve on the Washington, D.C.-area’s COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force. Hoskins is the only member on the task force representing one of the region’s economic-development organizations. Formed by Connected DMV, a non-profit regional collaboration, the task force includes a mix of commercial, academic, and community leaders who will work with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and local governments across the region in post-pandemic economic-recovery planning. Find out more in this FCEDA release picked up by citybizlist.

Screening safely: Centreville-headquartered Parsons developed the contactless DetectWise system as a public-health tool for venues that are looking for ways to reopen safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. DetectWise is a mobile health-screening kiosk that can measure someone’s body temperature, heart rate and respiration to identify those who may be infected with the disease, FindBioMetrics reported.

Think globally, act locally: Reston-headquartered Bechtel announced that The Bechtel Group Foundation will donate $3 million in partnership with the crowdfunding nonprofit GlobalGiving to communities across the world coping with the coronavirus pandemic. The newly established Bechtel COVID-19 Relief Fund will support local nonprofit organizations that provide vital services to people in areas where Bechtel maintains offices and project sites. “These gifts will help local nonprofit organizations respond to urgent needs such as food, emergency financial assistance, and physical and mental health services,” said Bechtel Chairman and CEO Brendan Bechtel. Virginia Business covered the story.

Cleaning up: Commercial cleaning companies have seen a surge in business demand during the pandemic. In Tysons, Bearfoot Ventures has branched out from working mostly at health-care facilities to a broader base of buildings including foreign embassies and commercial office spaces. It has increased its workforce from about 40 to more than 100 people and is developing weekly preventive disinfection programs for its client base. CEO Jeb Byrne estimates Bearfoot is on a trajectory to boost annual revenue from about $1 million in 2019 to more than $5 million over the next eight to 12 months, reported Washington Business Journal in an article for subscribers.

Org-anizing a response: Reston’s Internet Society Foundation launched an emergency grant program for organizations working on projects that use the Internet to improve lives during or in response to an emergency. The foundation was launched last year by the Internet Society, its parent organization. This funding is part of the foundation’s Emergency Response Program, which will award grants to dot-orgs working on projects for the immediate COVID-19 pandemic and beyond to aid with the second wave of the virus. Grants of $250,000 to $500,000 will be awarded to organizations pivoting from their regular work to build internet-based technical solutions to respond to the global crisis. Technical.ly covered the new program.

Let the games begin: Reston-based Comscore is reporting a notable rise in desktop and console gaming while people are social distancing during the pandemic. In the PC gaming category, average aggregate daily unique visitors rose by 14 percent, and average engaged duration (total time spent with the desktop game in the foreground) increased by 17 percent during the pandemic. Console games also saw notable increases, including a 19 percent jump in average households per week engaging with top games. Inside Nova got game with an update.

Mapping donations: Fairfax County recently created a map pinpointing local groups looking for donations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The map allows users to find nonprofits and organizations within a specific region of Fairfax County so they can help people within their own communities. Users can search for charities by the proximity to an address or by clicking on one from the general geographic overview. Reston Now covered the story.

Think locally, act locally: Reston Strong, a community-based action group, and Reston-based CORE Foundation, a local nonprofit organization, are collecting contactless donations at various storage pods in the area. Community partners include Cornerstones, Helping Hungry Kids, Reston Hospital Center. Requested items can be dropped off at the pods. Find out the locations in Reston Now.

Sweet treats: A Northern Virginia Dunkin’ franchisee group, Vigario Management Corp., delivered 80 dozen donuts to the staff at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Inova Loudoun Hospital on May 6 in honor of National Nurses Day. Vigario Management Corporation owns and operates 16 Dunkin’ restaurants in the area, Fairfax City Patch reported.

Non-coronavirus news

Preview of coming attraction: Reston-based Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company that’s known for cracking cold cases across the country, is coming to a TV near you. The company is featured in “The Genetic Detective,” a new ABC docuseries that will premiere on May 19 at 10 p.m. The show takes a deep dive into the company’s genetic genealogy division. See the show’s trailer in Reston Now.

Inclusive analytics: Qrvey, a Tysons-based analytics and data software startup, closed a $7.5 million Series A investment round. The new round was led by investors who also participated in Qrvey’s angel and seed rounds. Qrvey is an AWS cloud-based analytics platform designed to enable users to access data regardless of source. Potomac Tech Wire carried the release.

Eureka!: Reston-based supply-chain solutions provider Softeon opened an expanded warehouse innovation lab that provides a facility for the firm’s research and development efforts and for customers to experience and explore ideas. The 2,200-square-foot “Warehouse of the Future Innovation Lab” is in an office complex close to its existing headquarters, replacing a smaller lab that Softeon had opened inside its headquarters building in 2008, DC Velocity reported.

Get smart: The Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon issued four contracts to build a “smart community testbed” in Stafford County, Va. The program will provide IoT device security to help prevent cyber-attacks and to provide data for county operations. The contracts were awarded to Tysons-based OST Global (for systems integration), Tysons-based Onclave Networks (for IoT device security), Warrenton, Va.-based Aer Wireless (for connectivity), and Wallingford, Conn.-based Mutualink (for IoT device integration). Potomac Tech Wire carried the release.

Space tech cyberattack defense: Fairfax-based ManTech International launched “Space Range,” a cyberattack simulation tool designed to help organizations identify vulnerabilities in their space-based technologies. ManTech said the Space Range tool is based on a software-defined infrastructure framework and virtualizes attacks such as satellite hacks, software bugs and misconfigurations that impact orbital and terrestrial networks, according to Executive Biz.

Top of the list: Fairfax-headquartered ECS was named number one on the Top 100 Vertical Market MSPs for 2020 for the second year in a row. The annual list identifies and honors the top 100 managed services providers (MSPs) in healthcare, legal, government, education, financial services, manufacturing and additional vertical markets, according to citzbizlist. Herndon-based Smartronix was named number three on the list.

Intrepid acquisition: Herndon-based Intrepid Solutions and Services completed the acquisition of a business unit of Colorado-based Delta Solutions and Strategies. The transaction represents Intrepid’s second acquisition since receiving an investment from Tysons-based Bluestone Investment Partners less than a year ago, according to citybizlist.

Boxing cyber-attacks: Reston-based Carahsoft Technology will distribute San Jose, Calif.-headquartered Skybox Security’s cyber protection products across the federal government through a reseller network and contracts with NASA and the General Services Administration. Skybox products allow users to analyze vulnerabilities, manage firewalls and automate changes of rules affecting firewalls, Executive Biz reported.

X marks a new spot: Xator, a Reston-based technology services contractor, finalized its purchase of Manassas-based InCadence Strategic Solutions to expand its presence as a provider of national security and intelligence platforms to U.S. government agencies, according to GovConWire.

Bon Appetit, Fairfax County: The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington announced nominees for its 2020 RAMMY Awards. The 38th annual ceremony honoring the Washington, D.C., region’s industry’s best was postponed from the end of July to a fall date yet to be determined. Here’s the list of restaurants, chefs and staff members located in Fairfax County that were nominated in various categories:

• Arcadia Farm, Mount Vernon, in the Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year category;
• Yasmin Orozco, Taco Bamba Taqueria, Springfield, in the Employee of the Year category;
• Rizza Leguro, Founding Farmers Tysons, and Bethany Wagener, Alta Strada–Mosaic in the Manager of the Year category;
• Meagan Tighe of Trummer’s, Clifton, in the Pastry Chef of the Year category;
• Clarity, Vienna, in the Wine Program of the Year category;
• B Side, Merrifield, Caboose Brewing Co., Vienna, and Sweetwater Tavern, Centreville, in the Beer Program of the Year category;
• Trummer’s, Clifton, in the Upscale Brunch of the Year category; and,
• Victor Albisu of Taco Bamba Taqueria, a local chain with locations in Fairfax, the Falls Church area, Springfield and Vienna, in the Restaurateur of the Year category.

See the nominee list in the Washington Business Journal.

Notable contract wins by firms in Fairfax County

Science Applications International Corp. won a $630 million contract to help the Air Force develop and maintain an integrated weather information system. GovConWire

General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) won a $350 million contract from the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to support its Western Hemisphere Program. citybizlist

LMI obtained a five-year, $70 million contract to provide administrative, strategic communications and business operations support to the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Executive Biz

Perspecta won a four-year, $29.9 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to research hardware components. Executive Biz

L3 Adaptive Methods scored a $12.7 million contract for engineering services and capability development in support of the Undersea Warfare and Surface Warfare systems. Homeland Security Today

Chenega Global Protection received an 18-month contract from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide screening services to detect COVID-19. ExecutiveBiz

Featured business events

May 13 — AI-Powered Business — Solutions from Quebec. The Northern Virginia Technology Council is hosting a virtual event with leading artificial intelligence companies from Quebec. The event is sponsored by NVTC’s Digital Transformation Committee and International Committee, together with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and the Government of Quebec. Click here to register.

May 20 — Back to Business: Resilience, Recovery and Moving Forward. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority presents a webinar featuring three panel discussions: “Business Best Practices” featuring Gautam Ijoor, Alpha Omega Integration; Mark Hartmann, Vricon; and Ashish Deshmukh, Newgen; “Technology to the Rescue” featuring Tom Dunlap, DBL Lawyers; Borzou Azabdaftari, Falcon Lab; and Moe Jafari, HumanTouch; and “Future of Workforce” featuring Michael Batt, FCEDA; Ashley Hoffman, Brazen Technologies; and Andy Galloway, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Click here to register.

May 22 — GovCon Business Topics Webinar: Role of a Project Controller — How to Maximize Profits on Every Project. The Asian American Chamber of Commerce presents a webinar featuring Zaneta Handa, project management office lead at Capgemini N.A. Click here to register.

May 27 — Leading in Times of Crisis. The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce presents a webinar in its Business Education Series featuring Karen Cleveland, president and CEO of Leadership Fairfax. Click here to register.

June 16 — Impact AI: National Impact, Local Innovation. The Northern Virginia Technology Council presents a conference on developments in artificial intelligence and the strength of the regional AI ecosystem. Click here to register.

How the Fairfax County EDA can help

Get business assistance: Continuing business operations in today’s situation is challenging and the FCEDA is working to assist businesses with information and access to critical resources during this emergency. Visit the FCEDA’s Covid-19 Business Resource Hub for up-to-date information, resources and assistance for businesses.

The FCEDA, like other economic development organizations in the region, is working virtually, and our staff is working full-time with businesses of all kinds to offer assistance and direct them to resources. For direct assistance, email the FCEDA at info@fceda.org, or call 703-790-0600 to leave a voice message for our staff. And click here for resources available in the other nine jurisdictions that make up the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance.

Here are more useful informational resources:

• Fairfax County information for businesses impacted by coronavirus: click here
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Virginia: click here
• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program information and other COVID-19 related resources and guidance for small business: click here
• CDC resources for businesses and employers: click here
• Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance — links to COVID 19-related resources throughout the region: click here

Get text updates: Fairfax County residents are encouraged to sign up for coronavirus-related text message alerts from the Fairfax County Health Department in order to stay current with important updates. To receive these alerts, text FFXCOVID to 888-777. In addition, residents can send specific questions or concerns related to the coronavirus to ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov. This email account will be staffed Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to respond to question.

Call to action: How is your company reacting to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis? Is your company developing any technologies, implementing any noteworthy procedures or have advice for other companies on how conduct business more effectively in this situation? Please contact the FCEDA communications division at info@fceda.org with relevant information that we may possibly share with our readers. Thank you for your assistance in these unprecedented times.